Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, during his Bangladesh visit, held several high-profile engagements highlighting India’s support for Dhaka, while also raising New Delhi’s concerns over attacks against religious minorities and their places of worship.
FS Misri called on the Chief Adviser of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus and the Foreign Affairs Adviser, Md Touhid Hossain. He also held Foreign Office Consultations with the Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh, Jashim Uddin.
Notably, there have been multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh. There also have been cases of arson and looting of minorities’ homes and vandalism and desecration of deities and temples.
A Hindu temple was allegedly set on fire in the outskirts of Dhaka. The Mahabhagya Lakshminarayan Mandir, at Dhor village, in North of Dhaka came under attack on late Friday night.
Earlier, the arrest of Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das in Chittagong on October 25 on sedition charges led to heavy protests.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh FS Jashim Uddin, during the meeting with his Indian counterpart, reaffirmed that the safety and security of the minorities in Bangladesh, regardless of their faith, religion, or ethnicity, was the “priority” of the interim government.
Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Mohammad Jashim Uddin, on Monday reaffirmed that the safety and security of the minorities in Bangladesh, regardless of their faith, religion, or ethnicity, was the interim government’s “priority.”
He also conveyed Dhaka’s concern over the recent incident at the premises of the Assistant High Commission of Bangladesh in Agartala, the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“Ambassador Jashim Uddin conveyed Bangladesh’s concern on recent violent incident on the premises of Assistant High Commission of Bangladesh in Agartala. On the issues of minorities, he emphasized that Bangladesh Government is committed to ensuring the safety and security of the people of Bangladesh, irrespective of their faiths, religions and ethnicities and that it is an internal matter of Bangladesh,” the statement read.
Misri noted India’s strong support for a “democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive, and inclusive” Bangladesh and emphasized India’s commitment to building a “positive and constructive relationship” with Bangladesh, based on “mutual trust, respect, and sensitivity to each other’s concerns and interests.”
“Foreign Secretary also discussed certain recent developments and issues and conveyed India’s concerns, especially those related to the safety and welfare of minorities. He also raised some regrettable incidents of attacks on cultural, religious, and diplomatic properties,” the MEA statement read.
During the FOC, both Foreign Secretaries highlighted the importance of expanding collaboration in sectors such as border security, water resources, trade, commerce, and consular matters and discussed regional and multilateral cooperation.
The Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary reiterated that Bangladesh seeks a constructive relationship with India based on fairness, mutual respect, and equity and stressed that both countries should focus on advancing a people-centric approach that prioritises the welfare of their citizens.
“The FOC provides a crucial platform for engaging in discussions to review various bilateral issues and explore new areas of mutual interest for the benefits of the two countries. The two Foreign Secretaries discussed to enhance cooperation in various important areas including border and security, water sector, trade and commerce, and consular issues. The two sides also discussed on issues related to regional and multilateral cooperation,” the statement from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs read.
Discussions between the two Foreign Secretaries further covered sub-regional, regional, and multilateral issues, with both sides agreeing to enhance consultations to promote regional integration, particularly under the BIMSTEC framework.
Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary also highlighted the need to initiate discussions for the renewal of the 1996 Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, along with the early conclusion of the Teesta water-sharing agreement and other water-sharing accords for common rivers.
Jashim Uddin.also emphasised the importance of normalising Indian visa services to enhance people-to-people connectivity.
According to MEA, India and Bangladesh, also exchanged views on sub-regional, regional, and multilateral issues and agreed to enhance consultations and cooperation to advance regional integration, including under the BIMSTEC framework
“During the Foreign Office Consultations, both sides held comprehensive discussions on a wide range of issues covering political and security matters, border management, trade, commerce and connectivity, cooperation in water, power and energy sectors, development cooperation, consular, cultural, and people-to-people ties. They also exchanged views on sub-regional, regional, and multilateral issues and agreed to enhance consultations and cooperation to advance regional integration, including under the BIMSTEC framework,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, on regional cooperation, the Bangladesh Foreign Secretary called for the revitalisation of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) and further regional cooperation within the frameworks of both SAARC and BIMSTEC.
“Bangladesh looks forward to support from India on the issue of the repatriation of Rohingyas to their homeland. Ambassador Jashim Uddin called for the revitalisation of SAARC and regional cooperation within the provisions of SAARC and BIMSTEC,” the Bangladesh MFA said.
India had on November 26 noted with deep concern the arrest and denial of bail to Shri Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is also the spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote.
India had urged Bangladesh authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right of freedom of peaceful assembly and expression.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
A bus carrying devotees of Lord Ayyappa was allegedly attacked by extremists in Andhra Pradesh’s Rayachoti town. The former played devotional songs and the mob claimed that the music was too loud. They demanded that the bhajans be shut down and also assaulted the Hindus including the driver. Now, the authorities have once again chosen to protect ‘secularism’ under the guise of combating misleading information rather than defending the victims.
While acknowledging that the anti-Hindu incident did occur, the Annamayya district police prioritized intimidating netizens who raised the issue on social media. “Strict action for spreading false information. What happened in Rayachoti is a sensitive matter, but false stories are being spread on social media. Such people would not be spared,” they declared on X (formerly Twitter).
*పత్రికా ప్రకటన *అన్నమయ్య జిల్లా* *తప్పుడు సమాచారాన్ని వ్యాప్తి చేస్తే కఠిన చర్యలు..* *➡️రాయచోటి లో జరిగింది సున్నితమైన అంశం, కానీ తప్పుగా సోషల్ మీడియాలో తప్పుడు కథనాలు ప్రచారం చేస్తున్నారు.. అలాంటి వారిని వదలిపెట్టం..* *?జిల్లా ఎస్పీ శ్రీ.వి.విద్యాసాగర్ నాయుడు ఐపీఎస్ గారు..* pic.twitter.com/k494EkKIJa
Of course, it is crucial to impose control over notorious elements who engage in these kinds of activities and prevent the spread of false information to keep the situation from deteriorating. However, such social media vigilance speaks volumes about stopping people from discussing the news, which could damage the reputation of the authorities, in addition to just curbing misinformation.
Notably, the authorities acknowledged that the car carrying the Ayyappa devotees was stranded in front of a mosque, following which agitated Muslims emerged and allegedly began yelling slogans. They also confirmed that a “peace committee” was formed “to ease tensions” with members of both communities (Hindus and Muslims). How, in the absence of communal violence, could there be any tensions between people of the two faiths? Regrettably, some questions are destined to remain unanswered. Furthermore, the visuals also conveyed the truth of the instance. However, the police are hesitant to call it a communal incident, as they always do.
These disclosures make it abundantly evident that a confrontation between the Muslim and Hindu communities did transpire which was followed by a “peace committee” which would not be necessary without the conflict itself. Meanwhile, the police are making every effort to deny this as amplified by another instance in which an individual referred to the occurrence as “really despicable” and added that it is unacceptable that the local Muslims complained about the playing of Ayyappa songs on the bus transporting the devotees.
The user then chose to state some uncomfortable truths and expressed, “Muslims do namaz on loudspeakers for Allah five times a day. It happens even at 4:30 in the morning but no Hindu ever labelled it as disturbance. Followers of no religion should behave in this manner which can disturb the religious harmony. It is not good for this country.” However, the police were quick to respond to the statement and termed the condemning of the attack on Hindus as “material that may aggravate communal tensions between different religious groups.”
Instead of keeping an eye on the conditions on the ground that resulted in the assault, the police declared to monitor the person’s post and profile as well as even threatened harsh action. “Posting or sharing such content without due verification is a punishable offence,” they added. Now, it’s crucial to remember that the remark wasn’t disseminating any false information, rather, only submitted a reasonable question, which the police took as a challenge to law and order.
Unfortunately, the authorities are now cracking down on social media users discussing the incident as though they were responsible for the attack in a desperate attempt to refute that a Muslim mob did attack Hindus.
Why do police seldom recognize a communal angle in such instances?
The authorities frequently allege that there was “no communal angle” to the crime or reject that it was in any way motivated by a religious bias in situations like these, where the motivation is clear but not implied explicitly. Hence, many might wonder why the police repeatedly shy away from calling a spade a spade. This could be due to a variety of reasons. Low-level communal occurrences are frequently minimized by the police because they cast doubt on their authority. They also dismiss it because they don’t want one incident to trigger another in the area or lead to further tensions, which is often a possibility.
The Left media, leftist intellectuals and their entire ecosystem work like an extended arm of Islamists are also prone to emphasize the banal “no communal angle” routine, particularly in cases when the victim of the crime is a Hindu. Nevertheless, a police statement or a media story alone, for example, is insufficient to ascertain whether the crime includes a communal angle and therefore ground realities must be evaluated to ascertain if the crime is communal or not.
For instance, the unholy Islamist-leftist union attempted to propagate that there was no communal component to the 2021 murder of Rinku Sharma, a Bajrang Dal activist who was brutally stabbed in his home in front of his family in Delhi’s Mangolpuri neighbourhood. The fact that the crime was communal was rejected even by the police. Opindia, however, spoke with several individuals who were there with the victim’s family and they unveiled that there is an obvious feeling of communal hostility in the region. According to Rinku Sharma’s family, the Muslims in the neighbourhood have harboured animosity toward him ever since he welcomed the historic Ram Mandir decision.
The fact that it is only one among thousands of anti-Hindu hate crimes that occur routinely in India and then downplayed in the name of ‘secularism’ must be remembered. This tracker will document cases like Rinku Sharma’s where the victim’s family or relatives’ testimonies clearly show that there was a clear religious bias that gave rise to the crime, even if the police have denied a communal angle or the leftist media has gone to great lengths to promote the “no communal angle” trope. Likewise, the attack on Ayyappa devotees has been recorded as a hate crime against Hindus because the police statement and the video both attest to its religious motivation.
On Sunday, 8th December, the Maharashtra Police in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district filed a police complaint against two individuals identified as Afsar Pathan and Salim Sayyed and three other unidentified women for forcefully claiming the ownership rights of land belonging to Hindus and assaulting the Hindu women.
As per the FIR copy obtained by OpIndia, the incident happened on 8th December when the Hindu women were working with lentil crops on their 2-acre disputed farmland. The accused persons with their claimed wives arrived in the fields and began abusing the Hindu women claiming that the land on which the women were working belonged to them.
The complainant in the FIR mentioned that the land in the subject is yet to be transferred in the name of the victim’s family. However, the accused from nowhere began claiming the ownership of the land. “It is because of this that the land has not yet been transferred in our name and the case in the administration office stands pending. But this is our land. Pathan and Sayyed have no take in this,” the Hindu complainant’s family stated in the FIR.
As per the report, the women in the burqa who accompanied the accused men slapped the Hindu women and abused them. Meanwhile, the accused persons used the sticks to physically assault the women. The men also threatened the Hindu ladies and asked them to vacate the premises. As per the Sudarshan news, the accused persons are closely associated with the AIMIM party.
महाराष्ट्रातील छत्रपती संभाजीनगरमध्ये कठमुल्ला ओवैसीच्या गोंधळ्यांनी हिंदू महिलेच्या जमिनीवर अवैध कब्जा केला.
जिहादी अफसर आणि सलीम पठाण यांनी हिंदू महिलेला जीवावर हल्ला करण्याची धमकी दिली.
The FIR against the accused persons has been filed under sections 118(1), 189(2), 191(2), 191(3), 190, 115(2), 352, 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyay Samhita, 2024 and sections 3(2)(va), 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the SC/ST Act. So far no arrests have been made. Further probe is underway.
In an alarming revelation in the internal survey of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), it has emerged that nearly 250 of its protected monuments are currently registered as Waqf properties, in a clear violation of the law. The ASI is set to approach the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) that reviewing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill to apprise them about these facts and demand that its control on these monuments be reinstated.
Citing sources, Indian Expressreported that the ASI’s list mentions many monuments named in the 2006 Sachar Committee report on the Social, Economic and Educational Status of the Muslim Community of India. This report listed “Waqf properties in India under unauthorised possession of ASI”.
Although not of all the 172 sites named in the ASI’s list are nationally recognised monuments, some notable sites in Delhi include the Jama Masjid at Ferozeshah Kotla, the Chhoti Gumti makbara in RK Puram, as well as Hauz Khas Masjid and Idgah. During the 4th JPC meeting in September, the ASI estimated a total of 120 monuments currently registered as Waqf properties, however, upon receiving details from its various circles, the ASI revised the number to 250.
Furthermore, the ASI is likely to inform the JPC about the difficulties this causes in the maintenance and conservation measures of the ASI-protected but Waqf-controlled sites.
On 9th December, the Home Minister of Chhattisgarh, Vijay Sharma, said that the authorities have deported around 850 illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators from the state. Sharma was speaking at a public meeting in Bhilai where he assured that all infiltrators would be identified and deported. Notably, he pointed out that around 500 illegal Bangladeshis have already been deported from Bastar and 350 have been removed from Kawardha.
Furthermore, 46 infiltrators from Kondagaon are currently in custody, awaiting deportation. Sharma assured that whenever such individuals are reported, the authorities will take swift action. He added that the state police are working tirelessly to identify and detain illegal immigrants.
Adivasi protests over illegal infiltrators in Bastar
The matter of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in Chhattisgarh has been brewing for months. In August 2024, the Sarv Adivasi Samaj called for a complete shutdown to protest against the unchecked influx of illegal Bangladeshis in the district. The tribal group alleged that the infiltrators came to India because of the political unrest in Bangladesh. They added that the infiltrators settled in villages, towns and cities while accusing the authorities of not taking any action against them. As a result, there was a widespread closure of shops and businesses. Only emergency services were operational during that time. The protestors demanded immediate identification and deportation of the illegal immigrants, as their presence risks the demography and cultural integrity of the region.
Bastar and Kondagaon declared Naxal-free
In other news, Chhattisgarh also achieved a significant milestone in its fight against Naxals. According to Bastar IG Sundar Raj P., both Bastar and Kondagaon districts were declared Naxal-free after decades of insurgency. He said in a statement that sustained development efforts in the interior regions of the state, combined with intensified security operations, significantly weakened the activities of Naxals in the area, which led to the historic achievement.
BJP’s 2023 victory should be credited for decisive governance
BJP’s decisive governance in the state should get the credit for both developments. It shows that there has been a notable impact of BJP coming to power in the December 2023 Assembly Elections. Under the leadership of the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Vishnu Deo Sai, the administration has visibly pushed the efforts to address long-standing issues of naxals and illegal infiltrators. This has also been reflected in the statement given by state Home Minister Vijay Sharma, who assured that any information about illegal immigrants will be swiftly checked and acted upon.
On Sunday (8th December), a sitting judge of the Allahabad High Court delivered a lecture on the constitutional necessity of the Uniform Civil Code at an event hosted by the Vishva Hindu Parishad’s (VHP) legal cell in Prayagraj. In his speech, Justice Shekhar Yadav said “Kathmullas,” in an apparent reference to Islamic fundamentalists, are dangerous for the country. He was speaking on the topic Uniform Civil Code: A Constitutional Necessity.
“Lekin yeh jo kathmullah hai jo…yeh sahi shabd nahi hai…lekin kehne mein parhez nahi hai kyunki woh desh ke liye bura hai…desh ke liye ghatak hai, khilaaf hai, janta ko bhadhkane wale log hai…desh aage na badhe is prakar ke log hai…unse saavdhaan rehne ki zaroorat hai (But these kathmullah… this may not be the right word… but I won’t hesitate to say it because they are harmful to the country…they are detrimental, against the nation, and people who incite the public. They are the kind of people who do not want the country to progress, and we need to be cautious of them),” Justice SK Yadav remarked.
A sitting Judge of Allahbad High Court, Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav uses the term 'Kathmulla' for the 'extremists' in the Muslim community, saying that we should beware of them. pic.twitter.com/x4tCtEdtaK
Justice Shekhar Yadav also stated that children in one community are taught the principles of kindness and nonviolence, and people there are nurtured to be tolerant. But in the other community, it is hard to expect tolerance from children especially when these children see animal slaughter in front of them.
“In our country, we are taught from a young age to respect all living beings, even the smallest animals, and to avoid harming them. This lesson becomes a part of who we are, which is perhaps why we are more tolerant and compassionate, feeling pain when others suffer. But this isn’t the case for everyone. In our culture, children are raised with guidance towards God, taught Vedic mantras, and instilled with the values of non-violence. However, in some other cultures, children grow up witnessing the slaughter of animals, which makes it difficult to expect them to develop tolerance and compassion,” Yadav said.
Regarding the Uniform Civil Code, Justice Shekhar Yadav remarked that while women are revered as goddesses in Hindu scriptures including shastras and vedas, members of a certain community continue to claim the right to take multiple wives, indulge in Halala, or practise Triple Talaq.
You can’t disrespect a woman who has been recognised as a goddess in our shastras and vedas. You can’t claim the right to have four wives, perform halala, or practice triple talaq. You say, we have the right to say ‘triple talaq,’ and not give maintenance to women. This right will not work. UCC isn’t something that VHP, RSS, or Hinduism advocates. The country’s top court also talks about it…This is the historic library hall of the court, where so many great personalities have been… I vow that this country will surely enact a uniform law, and it will happen very soon,” Justice Yadav said.
On 7th December notorious human trafficker Kamran Haider, also known as Zaidi from Jasola, was nabbed from Hyderabad by Delhi Police’s special unit following a 2,500-kilometer pursuit.
Kamran Haider used phony call centers to coerce numerous young guys from India into committing cybercrimes in exchange for jobs overseas. National Investigation Agency (NIA) had announced a reward of Rs 2 lakhs on him. According to police, Haider headed a sophisticated network of touts and traffickers. He took money from victims through cryptocurrency wallets.
Haider was arrested near Nampally Railway Station in Hyderabad, Telangana. Haider enticed young Indians with fictitious job offers, only to entrap them in cybercrimes for call centers operated by Chinese companies. The authorities faced a difficult challenge because he was constantly moving to avoid being arrested. He was preparing to escape to another hideout when police arrested him after months of operations across several states.
Haider is charged with participating in the unlawful trafficking of Indians to Thailand and Laos, together with four other individuals, Manjoor Alam alias Guddu, Sahil, Ashish alias Akhil, and Pavan Yadav alias Afzal. Ali International Services, the name of the consulting business he operated in the national capital, was a front for human trafficking. The syndicate transported vulnerable Indians to nations like Thailand and Laos under the pretense of job opportunities.
A complaint from a man named Naresh Lakhavath led to the registration of a case at the New Friends Colony police station in Delhi on 27th May. He stated that Haider’s company offered him a position in Thailand and Laos. His passport was seized after he landed in Thailand and he was forced into working for a Chinese cyber fraud organization in Thailand. After the accusation, a human trafficking case was filed against Haider and an investigation was started in June of this year.
Later, the matter was turned over to the NIA, whose investigation showed that the company had deceived people into participating in cyber scams that targeted Americans and Europeans. Haider was also involved in extorting victims who attempted to flee the Chinese scammers via cryptocurrency wallets. All five of the accused were reportedly involved in the trafficking of vulnerable Indian youngsters to the Golden Triangle Region in Laos.
The company transferred potential victims for illegal activities in South Eastern Asian countries, according to NIA. The victims were forced to work in inhumane conditions, according to the central agency. Deputy Commissioner of Police Manoj C informed, “The main accused was identified as Kamran Haider. Kamran Haider absconded and despite all efforts, accused Kamran Haider could not be arrested. He was trying to go abroad to Thailand and Laos.”
Police disclosed, “The syndicate, led by Haider, was involved in the operation of an unlicensed manpower supply agency, illegal transfer/transport of potential victims for criminal activities in south-east Asian countries. The trafficked persons were being used as slaves and forced to work in inhumane conditions.”
Kamran Haider remained at large despite the announcement of a Rs 2 lakh reward for his capture. The Delhi Police Special Cell was assigned the responsibility of apprehending him and teams were deployed throughout Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra to collect information and leads.
The Police official added, “Zaidi was located in Hyderabad, Telangana. Immediately two different teams of the special cell were sent to Hyderabad. He was apprehended on 7th December after a long persevering chase of 2,500 kilometres by the team without any rest. He was apprehended near Nampally Railway Station, Hyderabad, Telangana while trying to escape to another hideout.”
On Saturday, 7th December, the Nashik Police in Maharashtra booked 5 persons, Mizan Sheikh, Ayaan Sheikh, Aayesh Shah, Sharik Shah, and Fahim Sheikh, for brutally assaulting a Dalit Hindu for sharing an Instagram story commemorating Shaurya Divas (The day when Babri Mosque standing at Ram Janmabhoomi was demolished).
The accused persons pelted stones at the Dalit Hindu and also assaulted him with wooden sticks for sharing a story celebrating Shaurya Divas on social media.
The incident is said to have happened in the Pimpalgaon region of Nashik’s Niphad. Team OpIndia has obtained an FIR copy of the incident. As per the FIR, the victim identified as Nayan (name changed for security reasons) shared a story on his Instagram account celebrating the valour of Hindu activists on 6th December, on the occasion of Shaurya Divas. This irked Mizan Sheikh, who is allegedly a ‘friend’ of the victim. The accused person poked the victim initially and blamed him for practicing alleged ‘casteism’.
Mizan abused the victim and said that what pleasure did the latter get by practicing alleged ‘casteism’. Responding to this, the victim cross-questioned the accused saying that there was no link between casteism and the post that celebrated the Shaurya Divas. Following this, the accused attacked the victim and continued to abuse him.
Hours later, when Nayan was on his way to pick up his sister from school, he was stopped by the accused who by then had called 15-20 of his associates including Ayaan Sheikh, Aayesh Shah, Sharik Shah, and Fahim Sheikh. The accused persons then pelted stones at the victim and beat him with wooden sticks for celebrating the Shaurya Divas.
They assaulted the victim brutally. The victim somehow managed to call his cousin for help who later took him to the hospital. The accused persons, in the meantime, managed to flee from the spot. However, they were booked by the police based on the complaint filed by the father of the victim.
The accused persons have been booked by the police under sections 109, 118(1), 115(2), 352, 351(3), 126(2), 189(2), 191(2), 191(3) and 190 of the Bharatiya Nyay Samhita, 2024 and section 3(2)(va) of the SC/ST Act. No arrests in the case have yet been made. Further probe into the case is underway.
Notably, in India, the date 6th December is celebrated as Shaurya Divas in memory of the Babri structure demolition. The Babri structure was symbolic of brute strength, of how native culture was subjugated, and how the universally adored Lord Ram was insulted by the invaders. It was a dark symbol of tyranny and barbarism. On December 6, the disputed structure in Ayodhya was brought down by various Hindu activists in 1992. While the day is termed the ‘Black Day’ by the Islamist community, the day is marked as Shaurya Divas by others.
On 8th December, the sitting judge of the Allahabad High Court, Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav, attended and spoke at an event organised by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) legal cell in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. In his address at the event, he emphasised the cultural and constitutional significance of Bhagwan Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, the urgency of implementing a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), and the role of the majority in shaping the future of India. In his speech, Justice Yadav covered a wide range of topics, from societal reforms to national unity.
‘Ram Mandir is a testament to sacrifices of our ancestors’
Justice Yadav began his address by paying tribute to the sacrifices made by countless individuals for the construction of Bhavya Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. He said, “Did you imagine seeing the Ram Mandir with your own eyes? Many of our ancestors made sacrifices in the hope of seeing Ram Lalla freed and witnessing the construction of a grand temple. They couldn’t see it but did their part, but now, we are witnessing it (the temple).”
Uniform Civil Code – a promise of unity and justice
He expressed optimism about the implementation of the UCC and assured the audience that the day is not far when UCC will become a reality. He said, “I assure you, you will see this (UCC) bill very soon. The day is not far when it will be clear that if there is one country, there should be one law, and one penal law. Those who try to deceive or run their own agendas will not last long.”
Justice Yadav took an oath in the historic library hall of the Allahabad High Court and declared, “This country will definitely bring a uniform law, and it will bring it very soon.” Referring to the 1985 Shah Bano case in the Supreme Court of India that upheld the right to maintenance irrespective of religion, he called the case a stepping stone for the implementation of the UCC.
‘Majority’s wishes define the law in Hindustan’
Justice Yadav remarked on the principle that the interests of the majority are central to governance in a democracy like India. He said, “I have no hesitation in saying that this is Hindustan; this country would function as per the wishes of the bahusankhyak (majority) living in Hindustan. This is the law. The law, in fact, works according to the majority. Look at it in the context of family or society… Only what benefits the welfare and happiness of the majority will be accepted.” He further stressed that such principles ensure the harmony and welfare of society at large.
Reforming women’s rights and ending discrimination
Moving further in his address, Justice Yadav criticised the discriminatory practices that affect women in certain communities and called them unconstitutional. He said, “If you say that our personal law allows this, it will not be accepted. A woman will receive maintenance, bigamy will not be allowed, and a man will have only one wife, not four wives… If one sister receives maintenance and the other does not, then that creates discrimination, which is against the Constitution.”
Justice Yadav strongly condemned practices like Halala and Triple Talaq and said, “You can’t disrespect a woman who has been recognised as a goddess in our Shastras and Vedas. You can’t claim the right to have four wives, perform Halala, or practise Triple Talaq. This right will not work.”
In relation to such practices, he emphasised that UCC is not only supported by organisations like RSS and VHP but that the Supreme Court of India has also advocated for it, suggesting it is a constitutional necessity.
The essence of Hindu identity and cultural respect
In his address, Justice Yadav elaborated on the broad definition of being Hindu. He said, “A person who takes a dip in the Ganga or applies chandan is not the only definition of being Hindu. Anyone who considers this land their mother and is willing to lay down their life for the country in times of crisis, regardless of their religious practices or beliefs, whether they follow the Quran or the Bible, is a Hindu.”
He further underlined the importance of respecting the culture, heritage, and great personalities of India. He said, “It is not expected for Muslims to follow our culture, but it is definitely expected that they do not disrespect the culture of this country, the great personalities, and the God of this land.”
Warning against disruptive elements and societal degeneration
Justice Yadav issued a stern warning against certain elements within society that are disruptive. He referred to such elements as “Kathmulla”, a term usually used for Muslims, who hinder national progress. He said, “The word may be inappropriate, but there is no hesitation in saying it because they (‘Kathmulla’) are harmful to the country. They are people who incite the public, and they are the ones who prevent the country from progressing.”
He further issued a warning that if Indians fail to uphold their cultural values, “It won’t take long for this country to become like Bangladesh or the Taliban.”
On tolerance and upbringing in different communities
He also drew comparisons between how children are raised across communities. He pointed out that values of compassion and non-violence are deep-rooted in Hindu traditions. He questioned, “In our country, we are taught not to harm even the smallest animals, not to kill ants, and this lesson is ingrained in us. Perhaps that is why we are tolerant and compassionate; we feel pain when others suffer. But you do not have this. Why? In your culture, from a young age, children are exposed to the slaughter of animals. How can you expect them to be tolerant and compassionate?”
A call for unity and strength
While concluding his address, Justice Yadav urged the people of India to recognise the significance of their cultural identity and values. He said, “I won’t say ‘ek rahenge to safe rahenge,’ but would say that once these values are realised, no one can harm us.”
Justice Yadav’s statements spark uproar
Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav’s address at the VHP’s event has drawn sharp reactions from the left-liberal cabal. They have accused the sitting judge of the Allahabad High Court of making controversial statements favouring one community over others. His support for the UCC, critique of Islamic practices like Triple Talaq and Halala, and emphasis on the role of the majority in shaping the country triggered outrage to the extent that some demanded action against him by the apex court.
CPI(M), from its official handle on X, wrote, “His speech is akin to hate speech. Justice Shekhar Yadav, a sitting judge of the Allahabad High Court, addressed a VHP meeting. That he should do so is bad enough. That he should promote majoritarian views and communal hatred is unacceptable. Supreme Court should take suo moto notice and sack him!”
Social media user Aditi Sharma wrote, “”Our (Hindus) children are non-violent & tolerant because they read Vedas but their (Muslims) children can’t be tolerant as they do animals sacrifice” -Justice Shekhar Yadav, sitting judge of Allahabad High Court. With such a biased mindset, how can this judge provide justice?”
"Our (Hindus) children are non-violent & tolerant because they read Vedas but their (Muslims) children can't be tolerant as they do animals sacrifice"
-Justice Shekhar Yadav, sitting judge of Allahabad High Court
TMC MP Mahua Moitra said, “Sitting HC judge attends VHP function, says country will function as per Hindus. And we are celebrating 75 years of our Constitution! Supreme Court, Hon’ble CJI – suo moto cognizance anyone?”
Sitting HC judge attends VHP function, says country will function as per Hindus. And we are celebrating 75 years of our Constitution! Supreme Court, Hon’ble CJI – suo moto cognizance anyone? https://t.co/VpASRR6YaJ
In a post on X, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi wrote, “The VHP was banned on various occasions. It is associated with RSS, an organisation that Vallabhai Patel banned for being a ‘force of hate and violence.’
It is unfortunate that a High Court judge attended the conference of such an organisation. This “speech” can be easily rebutted, but it’s more important to remind his honour that the Constitution of India expects judicial independence & impartiality. May I direct his attention to AoR Association vs Union of India “Impartiality, independence, fairness and reasonableness in decision-making are the hallmarks of the judiciary.” The Constitution of India is not majoritarian but a democratic one. In a democracy, the minority’s rights are protected. As Ambedkar put it “…as a King has no Divine Right to rule, so also a majority has no Divine Right to rule.” This speech indicts the collegium system and raises questions on judicial impartiality. How can a minority party expect justice before someone who participates in VHP’s programs?”, Owaisi wrote.
The VHP was banned on various occasions. It is associated with RSS, an organisation that Vallabhai Patel banned for being a ‘force of hate and violence.’
It is unfortunate that a High Court judge attended the conference of such an organisation. This “speech” can be easily… https://t.co/IMce7aYbcf
Just a couple of days before Justice Shekhar Yadav’s address, Owaisi was reposting speech excerpts of former Justice Rohinton Nariman.
Source: X
The left-liberals condemned Justice Yadav’s remarks and labelled them divisive. They argued that his statements were inappropriate for a sitting judge and reignited debates on judicial propriety and ideological bias among members of the judiciary.
Double standards – Praise for Nariman but outrage over Yadav
Interestingly, the same left-liberal cabal crying foul over Justice Yadav’s remarks lauded former Supreme Court judge Rohinton Nariman for his sharp critique of the 2019 Ayodhya verdict, delivered just days before the VHP event. Justice Nariman, during a lecture for the Ahmadi Foundation on 6th December, two days before Justice Yadav’s address, called the Supreme Court’s ruling on Ram Janmabhoomi a “mockery of justice” and accused the five-judge bench of violating “secularism, which, according to him, is a basic feature of the Constitution.”
Justice Nariman went further, describing the VHP-led karseva movement as “dictatorial” and the demand for the Ram Mandir as “tyrannical.” He claimed that the Places of Worship Act was disregarded in the Ayodhya judgment and criticised notices being served to mosques and dargahs, terming them “hydra heads” that could incite communal discord. He argued that the strict enforcement of the 1991 law, which prevents Hindus from pursuing historical claims, is the only way to ensure communal harmony.
Despite his harsh criticism of Hindus, Justice Nariman was widely celebrated by the left-liberal ecosystem. This stark contrast in the reception of similar issues, depending on the speaker and their stance, highlights the ideological bias prevalent among left-liberal circles. Justice Yadav’s call for cultural respect and constitutional uniformity was branded divisive, whereas Justice Nariman’s pointed remarks, which dismissed centuries of injustice faced by Hindus, were applauded as progressive.
The selective outrage undoubtedly raises questions about the deep-rooted ideological bias among left-liberals. Justice Nariman’s statement that “secularism would only have been upheld if Hindus had abandoned their claim” underscores the one-sided expectations placed on the Hindu community. His criticism of notices to mosques and dargahs, without acknowledging the historical destruction of Hindu temples, further reveals the hypocrisy of those claiming to champion secular values.
Former Justice Nariman also expressed disappointment over the failure to rebuild a mosque on the disputed site after the demolition of the Babri structure, calling it a “travesty of justice.” However, he overlooked the fact that Hindus adhered to the legal process for decades, seeking rightful ownership of their place of worship. Had the Hindu community acted outside the law, the disputed structure known as the “Babri Masjid” would not have stood until 1992, nor would the Ram Mandir have been planned nearly three decades later, only after the court ruled in favour of the Hindu community.
Late Fali Nariman celebrated his son’s priesthood but criticised Yogi’s
There are certain elements of irony about the whole secularism sermon by Nariman. Former Justice Rohinton Nariman’s father, the late Fali S Nariman, once criticised Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath becoming the head of the state because he is a Hindu priest. He claimed that CM Yogi’s appointment was a threat to secularism.
However, he completely ignored the fact that his son, Justice Rohinton Nariman, is himself a Parsi priest. Rohinton was ordained at the age of 12 and performed religious ceremonies. He has credited his priesthood for shaping his life and career.
The starkly different receptions to Justice Yadav and Justice Nariman’s statements expose a deep-seated bias within sections of the left-liberal ecosystem. While one judge is vilified for his calls to respect the Constitution and cultural heritage, another is glorified despite undermining the historical and legal struggles of a community. This selective appreciation serves as a glaring example of the hypocrisy that continues to plague public discourse on India’s socio-religious landscape.
On 7th December ten members of a Hindu family from Bangladesh recently made it into Tripura by trekking through deep woods without taking a moment to rest in the middle of the night. However, Indian security forces apprehended them at the Ambassa Railway Station in the Dhalai area. The anti-Hindu violence and tensions in the neighbouring countries caused them to evacuate their hamlet and enter India to protect their lives. They are from Dhanpur village in the Kishorganj district of Bangladesh.
The family included three women (mother-in-law and her daughters-in-law) along with three minors, two boys, a girl, and an elderly person. They were caught while trying to board a train to Silchar in southern Assam. The family reportedly stated during the preliminary interrogation that they were forced to cross the border because of the growing atrocities committed against the minority Hindu community in the neighbouring country after the Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina collapsed in August.
“After trekking the forested hills of an arduous route overnight, we entered India on Saturday through Kamalpur (in Tripura’s Dhalai district). We were trying to go to Silchar in Assam to stay in a rented house. We would never return to Bangladesh under any circumstances. The situation in Bangladesh is very grim. Attacks on the lives and properties of Hindus have become an everyday affair,” Shankar Chandra Sarkar one of the arrested Bangladeshi Hindus expressed.
“We had to take cover of the darkness and jungles and walk throughout the night. We eventually managed to cross into India through the Srimangal area of Bangladesh. We started on Friday and reached Tripura on Saturday,” he further narrated their hectic journey to India. According to him, they travelled from Kamalpur to the Ambassa railway station, where they intended to catch a train to Silchar, Assam.
He added, “We have come from Bangladesh. We came to India because we can’t stay there (Bangladesh) anymore in the face of atrocities. I worked as a driver at Dhanpur in Kishorganj district. People tried to assault me. Our women are not safe there. I shall not go back from India even if I am jailed,” he voiced their terrible ordeal.
“We will not go back. We will not go back to Bangladesh at any cost. We have sold whatever we could before coming here. We can’t get justice there, we are assaulted, we are unsafe in Bangladesh,” the victim of Islamist attacks reiterated. He pointed out that they had to abandon many of their properties and household goods as well as assets.
Sarkar mentioned that hundreds of Hindus, like himself, are considering escaping to India because of the unrest in Bangladesh, but many have not dared to do so for several reasons. “It is not a petty matter to leave behind your house, and belongings, and come to another country. My father also walked through the jungle. He is a senior citizen and could have died,” he highlighted their miserable situation.
“During the Awami League government headed by then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, we were happy and there was no enmity between the Hindus and Muslims in our areas. But after the caretaker government headed by Muhammad Yunus assumed office, we were continuously harassed and threatened,” he conveyed underlining the unbridled assaults on minorities especially against Hindus and their temples, religious institutions as well as properties.
Meanwhile, on 8th December, seven members of the Hindu family were placed in 14 days of judicial custody by a local court in the Dhalai district of Tripura for breaking the Indian Passport Act by entering the country illegally. Seven adult members of the family have been sent to Chailengta subdivisional jail while the three underage children were sent to Narsingarh juvenile home in Agartala.
Sudhir Sarkar (70) the patriarch of the family, expects to become an Indian citizen through the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 which makes it possible for undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who arrived in India before the 31st December 2014, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians to be granted Indian nationality. “Nobody wants to leave his or her birthplace and fights to stay back till the end. But if a situation has arisen where a Hindu family from Bangladesh is forced to seek refuge in India, the Indian administration should deal with it sympathetically,” he told the media before going to jail.
Recounting his horrific experience at home, he stated that since deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s ouster, his sons, Shankar and Adhir, had been subjected to atrocities by anti-Hasina groups. Their livelihoods were stolen, women were prohibited from leaving the house and their children were prevented from attending school. “Our Muslim neighbours, with whom our families lived peacefully for generations, became our sworn enemies overnight. They would torture us, not allow us to go to the market. They simply wanted us to die either by suicide or starvation. We had no option but to leave our country,” he disclosed.
According to him, they fled their house with a few possessions before the sun came up on 6th December and arrived in Sri Mangal town (on the Bangladeshi side) in the evening. They succeeded in reaching the international border, but they had to wait to avoid being caught by the Border Security Force (BSF) and Bangladesh’s Border Guard. The whole family spent the night in the jungle between Ambassa and Kamalpur and took an autorickshaw to get to the train station, the next morning where they were arrested.
